Using The Mind's Eye

[keyboardclass]

When playing stride type patterns and whilst looking at the right hand, do you still see the left in the mind's eye?

[thalbergmad]

Interesting and for me the answer is yes.

I try to let the left take care of itself, but it is never that simple.

Thal

[keyboardclass]

Is there a conundrum about seeing the left and right simultaneously?  Even though, as you say, you're not physically looking at the left?

[pianisten1989]

for me, it's like walking with my eyes closed in a room I know perfectly well. I somehow see with my hand, because I know where all the notes are, and not at my left hand. Deep, huh?

[keyboardclass]

for me, it's like walking with my eyes closed in a room I know perfectly well.

Yes, but do you see the room in your mind's eye?

[pianisten1989]

exactly, I know where everything is and how to get to the different spots.

[keyboardclass]

If the actually eye is just a guide for the arm/hand how does the mind's eye compare in accuracy?

[pianisten1989]

Well, the "mind eye" is, to me, muscle memory, and it only works once I've practised for a while. But I guess is just as good...

[keyboardclass]

I'm saying looking at the mind's keyboard may be nearly as good as looking at the actually keyboard.

[spencervirt]

This is somewhat related- I find it interesting to play pieces with my eyes closed and see how I do. I've found that if I visualize the piano in my head I can play much more accurately. We look at it all day, of all the things we should have perfectly memorized, it should be the keys of the piano!

And yes, when I'm focusing on one hand, I tend to see the other one in my head. Funny thing is, it always looks like i'm not making any mistakes. Wish that were the truth!


 
 

[keyboardclass]

We look at it all day, of all the things we should have perfectly memorized, it should be the keys of the piano!

I think that's my point!

[dcstudio]

awesome question!  I don't "see" it, but I feel it--I had to pull out the Joplin and really examine how I do that.  I have been playing stride since "The Sting" was in the theaters.  I have a mental map which is not connected to a visual image i guess is the best way to explain it.  i don't visually imagine the keyboard if that's what your asking, but I know it by touch--which may sound less impressive--but after 40+ years believe me it's a rock solid "touch"
'

[ramyfishler]

Interesting question,
For me, when I am looking at my right hand... I don't even see my right hand!
Sounds funny, I know. I guess what I'm looking at when I play is where are the keys that I need to jump to, otherwise its all muscle memory. I also find that when I look at my hands I am less concentrating on how it sounds, and I look forward or close my eyes as often as I can.

[keyboardclass]

I also find that when I look at my hands I am less concentrating on how it sounds, and I look forward or close my eyes as often as I can.

Funny you should say that - my teacher used to get annoyed that I always tended to stare into space rather than watch my hands.  The visual stimuli really did interfere with my hearing.

[ted]

This is a very difficult question to answer with any certainty. I do not "actually see" things in my "mind's eye" or "actually hear" musical sounds in my "mind's ear". Some people can, of course, but I am not one of them. Just exactly what I do form in my mind is rather problematical to describe. I can play all right in the dark, but this might be a haptic faculty and not a visual one.

Also, I find it very hard to say precisely where I look when I play. I do look vaguely at the keyboard, just habit I suppose, but is the sequence of places I look at the same over the course of the same piece each time ? I don't know but I suspect it varies. During improvisation ? I think I tend to look at the positions of greatest aural interest rather than those of technical difficulty, but I cannot be absolutely sure.

Very good question.

  

[keyboardclass]

This is a very difficult question to answer with any certainty. I do not "actually see" things in my "mind's eye"

Also, I find it very hard to say precisely where I look when I play. I do look vaguely at the keyboard, just habit I suppose, but is the sequence of places I look at the same over the course of the same piece each time ? I don't know but I suspect it varies. 

I'll bet it doesn't and you could be a more efficacious routine for any individual piece.